Profiler captures every plan or none. With query_post_execution_showplan, Extended Events can capture only CPU bound execution plans in SQL Server 2012.
FORMAT vs CONVERT: The CPU Cost of Pretty Dates
FORMAT makes dates look nice, but it costs CPU on every row. Here is the gap, and where it hurts most.
Top Resource Consumers in Query Store
Top resource consumers in Query Store show CPU, duration, and reads by query and plan, so tuning starts with workload impact.
Signal Waits: Telling CPU Pressure From Slow Disks
Measure signal waits over an interval, compare scheduler queues and file latency, and separate CPU scheduling pressure from storage delays.
Running, Runnable, Suspended: The Life of a Query in sys.dm_exec_requests
Read running, runnable, and suspended SQL Server requests, inspect task states, and compare scheduler queues before diagnosing CPU pressure.
Scale Up or Scale Out: Signs Your Server Needs More Hardware
Decide when to scale up SQL Server by checking sustained CPU demand, memory pressure, storage latency, and whether query tuning comes first.
Choosing Hardware for SQL Server Now
Choosing hardware for SQL Server Now means matching core cost, memory, and storage latency to measured workload needs and future growth.